Somerset U20s 20, Cornwall U20s 22

ARON Struminski was the star of the show for Cornwall as they beat Somerset in their National Under-20 Championship game at Wellington's Athletic Ground on Sunday, writes Nigel Walrond.

The 19-year-old Cornish All Blacks and Truro College winger showed electrifying pace and great footwork to bag two first-half tries to put the Duchy firmly in the driving seat.

Somerset hit back in the second period, but Cornwall hung on for what was a crucial victory.

Under proposed restructuring at under-20 level, the bottom team in South West Group B will drop down into tier two next season, and both Somerset and Cornwall had lost their opening group matches.

With Gloucestershire beating Devon 13-11 at Lydney in the other group match on Sunday, Cornwall lie third behind Devon in the table on points difference, and conclude their pool games by playing their arch rivals at Hayle on Sunday, March 4 (2.30pm).

Delighted Cornwall coach Tom Rawlings said: "The challenge was to go to Somerset and get a victory, and the boys achieved their goal.

"If we had followed up our first-half performance, we could have put a healthy score on the board, but all credit to Somerset, they blitzed the second half, we fell asleep a little bit, we went away from our strengths and we didn't seem to attack them out wide at all.

"I don't think Aron saw the ball in the second half, and we will take a look at that, but all credit to the guys, we got the win we wanted."

Commenting on Struminski's display, Rawlings said: "He got lots of ball in the first half and showed up his winger. He is a talent, he has got raw pace and I would like to see that more from him throughout a game.

"There were a lot of players who stood out for us though, including the Wadebridge back rowers, Ben Scott and Connor Dymond, who were outstanding, as was Mike Roach at tight-head, and Ryan Brown, who came on at loose-head in the second half and scrummaged very well.

"All in all, I thought it was just a great performance and I am really happy."

Grateful

Both sides were hugely grateful to Roger Simon, who turned up to watch the game but ended up refereeing it, after the three match officials expected for the contest failed to show.

Somerset fly half James Huxtable missed a simple early penalty chance, but his opposite number, Kyle Moyle, was successful with a ninth-minute effort.

Seven minutes later, Struminski collected the first of his two touchdowns, after two fine tackles by Dymond had helped secure turnover ball.

Struminski crossed for his second try in the 34th minute with another searing burst, before Huxtable and Moyle kicked a further penalty apiece to give Cornwall a 16-3 interval lead.

Huxtable and Moyle each added another penalty early in the second half to make it 19-6, but Cornwall squandered several good scoring chances as overlaps were ignored.

A 68th-minute try by Somerset replacement Max Woodward, converted by Huxtable, set a few alarm bells ringing for the visitors, but another Moyle penalty sealed victory, before centre Joseph Keane burst through a huge gap for a try for Somerset, converted by Huxtable with the last kick of the game.

Somerset: Bolster (Keynsham), Hawking (Keynsham), Burnell (Old Reds), Keane (Walcot), Paul (Burnham-on-Sea), Huxtable (Bath Univ), Skinner (Bath Univ), Heggarty (Wells), Mahoney (Taunton), George (Frome), Gill-Watkins (Old Reds), Thompson (Bridgwater & Alb), Phillips (Filton Academy), Indow (Walcot), Webber (Minehead). Replacements all used: Collins (Old Reds) for Skinner 80+1 mins, Dunn (Bridgwater & A) for Heggarty 54, Woodward (Old Reds) for Indow 59, Tregenna (North Petherton) for Phillips 59, Weaver (Trowbridge) for Bolster 80+1, Atherton (Avonvale) for Burnell 68, Hurrell-Smith (Keynsham) for Paul 54.

Cornwall (Cornish All Blacks unless stated): D Bonds (Redruth), T Notman (Redruth), Yeo, Chapman, Struminski, Moyle, Asbridge (Bath Univ), Hearn (Penryn, capt), Allsopp (Truro College), Roach (Truro College), O'Keeffe (Truro), Hales, Scott (Wadebridge Camels), Dymond (Wadebridge C), Rose (Penryn). Replacements used: Brown (St Austell) for Hearn 62 mins, Pill for Roach 62, Murphy (Truro College) for O'Keeffe 65, Welland (St Austell) for Notman 62, J Duke for Rose 71. Not used: J Grubb (Wadebridge), Tidball (Truro).

Scorers. Somerset: Tries: Woodward, Keane; Cons: Huxtable (2); Pens: Huxtable (2).

Cornwall: Tries: Struminski (2); Pens: Moyle (4).

Cornwall man of the match: Aron Struminski.